Join the cast of Another Videogame Webcomic as we peek behind the curtain to see what exactly goes into bringing your favorite video games to the small screen. It may be a job in video games, but it's still a job.
Wii Heart CPR!
Ohhh... I get it now! When Nintendo first introduced the Wii Vitality Sensor in their E3 press conference, it made about as much sense to me as hating tomatoes but liking ketchup. But when the American Heart association announced that it would be funding an initiative to develop software to teach CPR on the Wii, it all made sense. Well, that may be overstating it a little. It makes a little more sense now than it did before but it still doesn't quite make sense.Education isn't anything new to gaming though. (How many of us learned the effects of dysentery on pioneers on the Oregon Trail?) With the Wii in so many homes, what better way to reach millions of people who never took high school health class? I do worry if they end up using the Wii's motion control, it won't give the correct tactile responses to properly teach CPR (nothing can replace you, Annie!)... but that's neither here nor there.
What I find interesting is this is just another example of this generation of game consoles trying to be more than game consoles. The Wii is a weight loss tool. The Xbox 360 is a social networking box. The PS3 is a Blu-ray player. Anyone remember when game consoles just played games? I guess it's not so surprising that consoles are being called on to do more than they used to. Even if the economy weren't crap, justifying the spend of at least a couple hundred bucks on something that is purely entertainment (not to mention an average of 50 to 60 bucks on games) is a tough call. But a console that does more than play games is an easier justification.
But this isn't the first time that a console has been marketed as something other than a game console. Anyone remember R.O.B.? (He's not just a character in Super Smash Brothers Brawl...) Back in 1984, a year after the video game industry had supposedly collapsed under its own suckitude, Nintendo introduced its game console disguised as a toy thanks to R.O.B. What could have been another victim of the videogame crash became the birth of Nintendo as we know it today.
Which brings us full circle back to the Wii, the CPR software and the Wii Vitality Sensor. While it's great that there are other applications for the Wii besides gaming, it is first and foremost a game console. That's not to say that the Wii can't be other things. I think the Wii is machine enough to be a game console, a fitness machine and more. Let's just hope that all of those things can coexist together...
No-more-PSP-reviews-a-thon Update!
So it's been a weeks since we began our donation drive and it's off to a good start. Thank you guys so much for donating! Just a reminder that if you guys do donate more than 10 bucks, be sure to note which print(s) you'd like, as well as your shirt size if you're donating anything above $25. Also, I forgot to mention, if you do order a print of one of the strips, you can order it with or without the word balloons. So if you want to see Joe's artwork uncluttered by those pesky words, just let us know.
Player Two
After the resurgence of multiplayer co-op, GameBizCo Inc. hired Player Two to be the Goose to someone else's Maverick. His workload isn't quite as heavy as most of the other people working at GameBizCo Inc. and as a result, he spends a lot of time in the break room or playing computer solitaire.
First Appearance: Another Videogame Webcomic?!? An Introduction
Player One
Player One is top dog at GameBizCo Inc. Nearly every game, from Pong to Mario Bros to Grand Theft Auto, requires Player One's expertise. His cocksure and sometimes inappropriate attitude is an annoyance to his coworkers but seeing as every game needs a first player, they make due.
First Appearance: Bonus Stage! Here comes Player One!
Damsel I. Distress
Whether it be a castle, a dungeon or mystical island, Damsel always needs to be saved... and she hates it. Damsel longs for the day when she's given the role of a strong female lead character who doesn't have huge breasts with hyper accurate physics.
First Appearance: LittleBIGPlanet
Final Boss
Underneath the huge brute that is Final Boss lies a timid creature who wouldn't hurt a fly. He puts on his "angry face" when throwing barrels down ramps or breathing fire but deep down he feels sorry for doing so. He's been known to throw a game or two in the player's favor.
First Appearance: World Record
John Minion
John Minion, or Min for short, is the hardest working employee at GameBizCo Inc. Playing everything from Goombas to no name thugs, Min gets beat up on a daily basis but loves every minute of it. He always wanted to work in the gaming industry and was originally hired as an intern. After years of getting coffee, his big break came when someone called in sick... and the rest is history.
First Appearance: Watchmen: The End is Nigh
Middle Manager
Middle Manager works in the Human Resources department. He runs staff meetings and interviews prospective employees. The other 90% of his time is spent playing Freecell on his computer.
First Appearance: Another Videogame Webcomic?!? An Introduction